Star’s San Antonio childhood memories helped inspire new TV show for NBC Universal

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Children's TV star Michele Lepe, who grew up in San Antonio and remains a passionate Spurs fan, has brought some of her childhood experiences in the Alamo City to a new animated television show launching next month.

She and another main voice on the new show, Rita Moreno, met with the TV press Wednesday to talk about "Nina's World," which debuts Sept. 26 on NBC Universal cable channel Sprout. Nina is a reimagining of Lepe's famous grown-up Nina on "The Good Night Show," a long-running, live-action, bedtime series for kids which also airs on Sprout.

In the new, current-day show, Nina is 6, has adventures in a multi-cultural neighborhood that's not unlike those in San Antonio.

Lepe, who moved with her family to San Antonio when she was 8 and still calls it home, indicated that the show was inspired in part by her S.A. youth.

"I brought in my stories growing up in San Antonio," said Lepe, 39 and the show's executive producer, said, "and brought in pictures of me as a little girl at the Battle of the Flowers Parade, for instance."

She said there's even a little river in the show that's a nod to the San Antonio River Walk.

In the show, her favorite companions are her plush toy Star (who only interacts with Nina when she's alone) and her abuelita (grandmother), who's voiced by screen icon Moreno, 83.

She lives with her Mami (voiced by Lepe, who also serves as executive producer of the half-hour children's show) and Papi, who run a bakery.

Other people Nina interacts with are a deaf little boy next door, who has taught her sign language, and a librarian, voiced by Mandy Patinkin.

On "Nina's World," diversity is crucial, and Spanish is spoken throughout between Nina and her beloved abuelita.

Of her role as executive producer, Lepe said: "It's a privilege and honor to participate in the development of the show. Everyone involved brought in real life experiences to make sure it remains authentic, true to what a real little girl is experiencing today."

Lepe said it was "a pie-in-the-sky dream" to get Moreno on the show, and the Oscar winner said she's equally excited to be involved. She's especially thrilled, she said, about the addition of a deaf character (played by a young deaf actor), which takes diversity to an entirely new level. "He, in the most important way, represents what this show is all about," Moreno said.

Lepe and Homa S. Tavangar, the show's cultural consultant also emphasized that Moreno's grandma will be very modern and active like today's real grandmothers. For instance, she loves doing yoga with Nina.

Lepe, whose maiden name is Michelle Ockenfels, graduated from Judson High and got a degree in international business from St. Mary's University before embarking on her journey of acting and producing. She now lives with her husband and kids in Miami.